TEACHERS' PERCEPTION OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOURS OF HEADS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE KWAHU NORTH DISTRICT OF GHANA

ABSTRACT

Competitions, misunderstandings and mistrust are likely to occur when

people meet as a group which could ultimately result in conflict. Since in the

school which is a miniature society, people meet as a group, conflict is likely to

occur. In this regard, the researcher sought to examine the extent to which

headmasters' management behaviours in conflict management contribute to or

reduce conflict in Junior High Schools in Kwahu North District.

The population for the study comprises teachers in the 42 Junior High

Schools in the district, numbering 151. The sample size is 100, comprising 86

males and 14 females. The instruments used were questionnaire and interview

guide. The questionnaire was pre-tested at St. Michael Junior High School. The

revised questionnaire was used for the target population and the responses were

analysed using frequencies and percentages.

The study identified the following as some of the possible causes of

conflict in the schools: (i) lack of flow of communication, (ii) competition among

teachers (iii) dependence on one party by the heads. Lateral conflict was

identified to be more common than subordinate conflict. There was low level of

conflict occurrence in the schools. Some preventive techniques used by heads

were staff meeting and team work. Compromise and arbitration were adopted by

heads in conflict resolution.

On the basis of the findings, the following recommendations are made:

that heads should increase the rate at which they organise staff meetings in order

to uproot conflicts before they occur. The use of compromise and arbitration

should be maintained in order to lower the level of conflict occurrence in the

schools in the district.